viscosity

/vɪˈskɒsəti/ (bre, ipa) · [vɪskˈɑsəti] /vɪˈskɑːsəti/ (ame, ipa) · [vɪskˈɑsəti] /vi-ˈskä-sə-tē How to pronounce viscosity (audio)/ (ame, mw)

viscosity — noun

  • viscositysingular
  • viscositiesplural

1. how thick and sticky a liquid is, which affects how slowly or easily it pours or

1.名詞B2
釋義

how thick and sticky a liquid is, which affects how slowly or easily it pours or moves

例句

The viscosity of honey makes it much harder to pour than water.

the viscosity of [liquid] + hard to pour

Lien saw the paint had higher viscosity than normal, so she added a little water.

higher viscosity + add water to reduce it

同義詞
  • thickness

    everyday word for the same idea; less precise than 'viscosity'

  • stickiness

    focuses on the adhesive quality, not resistance to flow

反義詞
  • fluidity

    the ability of a liquid to flow easily, the opposite of high viscosity

  • thinness

    everyday opposite — a thin liquid pours fast

文法句型

the viscosity of [liquid]

用法筆記

Uncountable noun — you cannot say 'a viscosity' or 'viscosities' when referring to the general property of being thick.

常見錯誤

❌The water has a high viscousity.
✅The water has a high viscosity.
💡'viscous' is the adjective form; the noun is 'viscosity'.

2. a scientific measurement of how strongly a fluid pushes back against being stirr

2.名詞C1
釋義

a scientific measurement of how strongly a fluid pushes back against being stirred, poured, or forced through a narrow space

例句

Engineers measure the viscosity of crude oil before pumping it through pipelines.

measure the viscosity of [liquid] for engineering decisions

The lab report showed that the liquid's viscosity rose sharply as the temperature dropped.

viscosity rises / falls with temperature

同義詞
  • consistency

    broader term that includes viscosity plus other texture qualities

文法句型

the viscosity of [fluid]

measure viscosity using [apparatus]

用法筆記

In technical contexts (physics, engineering, food science) this sense is used as a measurable property with units (e.g. pascal-seconds, poise). In everyday conversation sense 1 is more common.

常見錯誤

❌The viscosity of this machine is wrong.
✅The viscosity of this oil is wrong.
💡'viscosity' is a property of fluids, not machines.